The likelihood of Golden State moving up from tenth place is decreasing. It could do better.
The Warriors’ home record fell to 18-19 after their Friday night loss to the Indiana Pacers. In comparison to their 2014–17 campaign, where they lost just nine games overall at home, that is more home losses than they have suffered in the previous two seasons combined.
They have lost games to the 34-37 Chicago Bulls, the 15-56 Spurs (who were playing without Victor Wembanyama), and the 23-48 Toronto Raptors at home at the Chase Center.
They suffered five straight losses at home in November, including back-to-back sets against the Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves.
Some of the home losses have been particularly painful, such as the time the Warriors let the Denver Nuggets get ahead by 18 points in the fourth quarter and Nikola Jokic made a game-winning field goal from 40 feet at the buzzer.
They dropped three home games—one in double overtime, one in which DeMar DeRozan hit the game-winning shot, and one that was the Bulls’ first victory in the Bay Area since 2015.
All of which suggests that the Warriors might not suffer as much if they have to travel for both the 9–10 play-in game and the subsequent game for the No. 8 seed. They play more intensely when traveling, for whatever reason.
Golden State defeated the Sacramento Kings on the road after falling short at home in Game 6 of the first round of the playoffs the previous year by 19 points.
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